Airplane Safety
A guide to safety on Airplanes, including information on hazardous materials, flying with children, flying with pets, remaining safe during turbulence, and international travel. Airplane Safety Information · Airplane Turbulence Safety · Child Safety on Planes · Flying with Pets · Internation Travel Airplane Safety · Hazardous Items
Airplane Safety Information
Evacuation
LEAVE YOUR POSSESSIONS BEHIND.
Stay low.
Proceed to the nearest front or rear exit - count the rows between your seat and the exits.
Follow floor lighting to exit.
Jump feet first onto evacuation slide. Don't sit down to slide. Place arms across your chest, elbows in, and legs and feet together. Remove high-heeled shoes.
Exit the aircraft and clear the area.
Remain alert for emergency vehicles.
NEVER RETURN TO A BURNING AIRCRAFT.
Electronics on Board
The FCC and FAA ban cell phones for airborne use because its signals could interfere with critical aircraft instruments. Radios and televisions are also prohibited.
Laptops and other personal electronic devices (PEDs) such as hand-held computer games and tape or CD players are also restricted to use above 10,000 feet owing to concerns they could interfere with aircraft instrumentation
Exit Row Seating
You must be physically capable and willing to perform emergency actions when seated in emergency or exit rows. If you are not, ask for another seat.
Thoroughly familiarize yourself with the emergency evacuation techniques outlined on the written safety instructions. Ask questions if instructions are unclear.
Fire or Smoke
Use a wet napkin or handkerchief over nose and mouth.
Move away from fire and smoke.
Stay low.
Passenger Safety Information
Review the passenger safety card before takeoff and landing.
Listen carefully to the safety briefing.
Be able to locate emergency exits both in front and behind you. Count the rows between you and the nearest front and rear exits.
Locate the flotation device.
Make a mental plan of action in case of emergency.
Airplane Turbulence Safety
Turbulence is air movement that normally cannot be seen and often occurs unexpectedly. It can be created by many different conditions, including atmospheric pressure, jet streams, air around mountains, cold or warm weather fronts or thunderstorms. Turbulence can even occur when the sky appears to be clear.
While turbulence is normal and happens often, it can be dangerous. Its bumpy ride can cause passengers who are not wearing their seat belts to be thrown from their seats without warning. But, by following the guidelines suggested on this site, you can help keep yourself and your loved ones safe when traveling by air.
To keep you and your family as safe as possible during flight, FAA regulations require passengers to be seated with their seat belts fastened:
When the airplane leaves the gate and as it climbs after take-off.
During landing and taxi.
Whenever the seat belt sign is illuminated during flight.
Why is it important to follow these safety regulations? Consider this:
In nonfatal accidents, in-flight turbulence is the leading cause of injuries to airline passengers and flight attendants.
Each year, approximately 58 people in the United States are injured by turbulence while not wearing their seat belts.
From 1980 through June 2004, U.S. air carriers had 198 turbulence accidents*, resulting in 266 serious injuries and three fatalities.
At least two of the three fatalities involved passengers who were not wearing their seat belts while the seat belt sign was illuminated.
Generally, two-thirds of turbulence-related accidents occur at or above 30,000 feet.
Child Safety on Planes
Did you know the safest place for your little one during turbulence or an emergency is in an approved child restraint system (CRS) or device, not on your lap?
A CRS is a hard-backed child safety seat that is approved by the government for use in both motor vehicles and aircraft.
FAA has also approved a harness-type restraint appropriate for children weighing between 22 and 44 pounds. This type of device provides an alternative to using a hard-backed seat and is approved only for use on aircraft. It is not approved for use in motor vehicles. Learn more about harness-type restraint.
FAA strongly urges parents and guardians to secure children in an appropriate restraint based on weight and size. Keeping a child in a CRS or device during the flight is the smart and right thing to do.
The CRS must bear a label or markings showing FAA approval under Section 21.305(d) and be clearly marked FAA Approved in Accordance with 14 CFR 21.305(d), Approved for Aircraft Use Only.
Cleared For Take-off
Make sure your CRS is government approved and has "This restraint is certified for use in motor vehicles and aircraft" printed on it. Otherwise, you may be asked to check the CRS as baggage.
Make sure a harness-type restraint is approved and has "FAA Approved in Accordance with 14CFR 21.305(d), Approved for Aircraft Use Only" on it.
Measure the width of your CRS. It should fit in most airplane seats if it is no wider than 16 inches.
Ask your airline for a discounted fare. Many airlines now offer discounts of up to 50 percent for children less than two years old. Buying a ticket for your child is the only way to guarantee that you will be able to use a CRS.
Reserve adjoining seats. A CRS should be placed in a window seat so it will not block the escape path in an emergency. Do not place a CRS in an exit row.
If you do not buy a ticket for your child, ask if your airline will allow you to use an empty seat. If your airline's policy allows this, avoid the busiest days and times to increase the likelihood of finding an empty seat next to you.
Ask your airline if they can provide a CRS for your child. If so, you may not be permitted to bring your own CRS on board, and may need to check it as baggage.
Arrange for your airline to help you if you need help making a connecting flight. Carrying a CRS, a child, and luggage through a busy airport can be challenging.
Pack a bag of toys and snacks to keep your child occupied during the flight.
Keep Your Little One Safe When You're in the Air
Be sure the shoulder straps are properly adjusted and fasten the airplane seat belt around the CRS.
Always follow the manufacturer's instructions when using a CRS. FAA recommends that a child weighing:
Less than 20 pounds use a rear-facing CRS
From 20 to 40 pounds use a forward-facing CRS
More than 40 pounds use an airplane seat belt
A child may also use an alternative, such as a a harness-type restraint, if it is approved by FAA. FAA has approved one restraint appropriate for children weighing between 22 and 44 pounds. This type of restraint is not safe for use in motor vehicles.
While booster seats and harness vests enhance safety in vehicles, FAA prohibits passengers from bringing these types of restraints on airplanes for use during taxi, take-off and landing. These restraints should be checked as baggage. Also, supplemental lap restraints or "belly belts" are not approved for use in both airplanes and vehicles in the United States.
Flying with Pets
Are there any airlines that do not allow pets to travel in the passenger cabin?
Some airlines do not allow any pets to travel in the cabin. You can call the airline you are traveling on to find out if they allow pets in the passenger cabin.
Can I be sure that there will be no animals on my flight if an airline does not allow pets in the cabin?
No, you can’t be sure. The Department of Transportation (DOT) has rules (14 CFR part 382) that require airlines to allow passengers to fly with their service animals in the cabin on all U.S. airlines. Service animals are not pets. They are working animals that assist persons with disabilities. There is no limit to the number of service animals that can be on any flight. Service animals do not need any health certificates to travel and they do not need to be confined in a container or cage.
How do I find out if an airline allows pets to travel in the passenger cabin and what their policies and procedures are?
You can find out what the specific policies and procedures are for each airline in several ways. You can call the airlines’ reservations line and get information from the agent who takes your call. You can also look at an airline’s website to get information about their policies for traveling with pets.
I have severe allergies to pet dander. How can I be sure that there is no pet dander on my flight?
You will still be exposed to pet dander on every flight, even without any pets in the passenger cabin. This is because most allergens are carried into the cabin on the clothes of other passengers.
Then what should I do if I am allergic to pet dander, but I need to fly?
First, you can reduce the chance that there will be an animal in the cabin on your flight. You can fly on an airline that does not allow pets in the cabin. You can also ask the reservations agent for your airline if another passenger on the same flight has made reservations to travel with a pet. You should also check with your allergist or doctor before your trip to discuss travel related risks and ask if you should carry medications with you. If a reaction should occur during the flight, follow your doctor’s treatment instructions and ask a flight attendant for assistance.
What are the FAA rules regarding traveling with pets in the passenger cabin?
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) allows each airline to decide if they will allow you to travel with your pet in the passenger cabin. If an airline does allow you to bring your pet into the cabin, we consider your pet container to be carry-on baggage and you must follow all carry on baggage rules (14 CFR part 121, section 121.589):
Your pet container must be small enough to fit underneath the seat without blocking any person’s path to the main aisle of the airplane.
Your pet container must be stowed properly before the last passenger entry door to the airplane is closed in order for the airplane to leave the gate.
Your pet container must remain properly stowed the entire time the airplane is moving on the airport surface, and for take off and landing.
You must follow flight attendant instructions regarding the proper stowage of your pet container.
What kind of general procedures do most airlines have in place?
If an airline allows you to travel with your pet in the cabin, you must follow all FAA regulations. Usually, most airlines have additional policies and procedures for you to follow to make sure that the flight is comfortable for all passengers on the airplane. These additional procedures may include
A limited list of the types of pets that you can bring into the cabin
A limit on the number of pets in the cabin
A limit on the number of pets that may accompany you on the airplane
A requirement that your pet be harmless, inoffensive and odorless
A requirement that your pet remain in the container for the entire flight
A requirement that you be able to produce a recently issued health certificate for your pet
Internation Travel Airplane Safety
Does FAA provide safety oversight for international flights?
Under the International Convention on Civil Aviation (Chicago Convention) each country is responsible for the safety oversight of its own air carriers. Other countries can only conduct specific surveillance activities, principally involving inspection of required documents and the physical condition of aircraft.
FAA conducts the International Aviation Safety Assessment Program (IASA), assessing the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) of each country that has carriers operating to the United States. Because of the provisions of the Chicago Convention and national sovereignty, FAA is not permitted to evaluate a foreign carrier within its own sovereign state.
An IASA assessment determines if the foreign CAA provides oversight to its carriers that operate to the United States according to international standards. The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), a United Nations agency, and Annexes 1, 6, and 8 of the Chicago Convention develop those standards.
If the CAA meets standards, FAA gives that authority a Category 1 rating.
Category 1 means the air carriers from the assessed state may initiate or continue service to the United States in a normal manner and take part in reciprocal code-share arrangements with U.S. carriers.
IASA ratings are released to the public.
What happens if a CAA does not meet ICAO standards?
If the CAA does not meet standards, FAA gives that CAA a Category 2 rating.
Category 2 means the air carriers from the assessed state cannot initiate new service and are restricted to current levels of any existing service to the United States while corrective actions are underway.
FAA does not support reciprocal code-share arrangements between air carriers for the assessed state and U.S. carriers when the CAA has been rated Category 2. During this time, the foreign air carrier serving the United States is subject to additional inspections at U.S. airports.
IASA ratings are released to the public.
Hazardous Items
| Item |
Carry-on |
Checked |
| Aerosol spray bottles and cans |
Yes - 3 oz. or smaller container |
Yes |
| All creams and lotions including Neosporin or first-aid creams and ointments, topical or rash creams and ointments, suntan lotions, moisturizers, etc. |
Yes - 3 oz. or smaller container |
Yes |
| Bubble bath balls, bath oils or moisturizers |
Yes - 3 oz. or smaller container |
Yes |
| Bug and mosquito sprays and repellents |
Yes - 3 oz. or smaller container |
Yes |
| Cigar Cutters |
Yes |
Yes |
| Corkscrews |
Yes |
Yes |
| Cuticle Cutters |
Yes |
Yes |
| Deodorants made of gel or aerosol |
Yes -3 oz. or smaller container |
Yes |
| Eye drops - You are allowed to carry a 3 oz. or smaller container of eye drops in a clear, one-quart plastic bag. There is no restriction on the amount you may carry, but containers greater than 3 oz. must be declared to the Security Officer and cannot be carried in your clear, one-quart bag. |
Yes |
Yes |
| Eyeglass Repair Tools - including screwdrivers. |
Yes |
Yes |
| Eyelash Curlers |
Yes |
Yes |
| Gel-filled bras and similar prosthetics - Gel-filled bras may be worn through security screening and aboard aircraft. |
Yes |
Yes |
| Hair styling gels and spray of all kinds including aerosol |
Yes - 3 oz. or smaller container |
Yes |
| Hair Straightener or Detangler |
Yes - 3 oz. or smaller container |
Yes |
| Knitting and Crochet Needles |
Yes |
Yes |
| Knives - except for plastic or round bladed butter knives. |
No |
Yes |
| Lip gels such as Carmex or Blistex |
Yes - 3 oz. or smaller container |
Yes |
| Liquid lip glosses or other liquids for lips |
Yes - 3 oz. or smaller container |
Yes |
| Liquid bubble bath including gel or liquid filled |
Yes - 3 oz. or smaller container |
Yes |
| Liquid foundations |
Yes - 3 oz. or smaller container |
Yes |
| Liquid, gel or spray perfumes and colognes |
Yes - 3 oz. or smaller container |
Yes |
| Liquid sanitizers |
Yes - 3 oz. or smaller container |
Yes |
| Liquid soaps |
Yes - 3 oz. or smaller container |
Yes |
| Liquid mascara |
Yes - 3 oz. or smaller container |
Yes |
| Make up removers or facial cleansers |
Yes - 3 oz. or smaller container |
Yes |
| Mouthwash |
Yes - 3 oz. or smaller container |
Yes |
| Nail Clippers |
Yes |
Yes |
| Nail Files |
Yes |
Yes |
| Nail polish and removers |
Yes -3 oz. or smaller container |
Yes |
| Non-prescription liquid or gel medicines like cough syrup and gel cap type pills - You are allowed to carry up to 3 oz., of eye drops in a clear, one-quart plastic bag. Volumes greater than 3 oz. must be declared to the Security Officer and cannot be carried in your clear, one-quart bag. For more details see read our information on liquid medications |
Yes |
Yes |
| Personal lubricants - You are allowed to carry up to 3 oz., of eye drops in a clear, one-quart plastic bag. Volumes greater than 3 oz. must be declared to the Security Officer and cannot be carried in your clear, one-quart bag. |
Yes |
Yes |
| Safety Razors - including disposable razors. |
Yes |
Yes |
| Saline solution - You are allowed to carry up to 3 oz., of eye drops in a clear, one-quart plastic bag. Volumes greater than 3 oz. must be declared to the Security Officer and cannot be carried in your clear, one-quart bag. |
Yes |
Yes |
| Scissors - plastic or metal with blunt tips. |
Yes |
Yes |
| Scissors - metal with pointed tips and blades shorter than four inches in length. |
Yes |
Yes |
| Shampoos and conditioners |
Yes - 3 oz. or smaller container |
Yes |
| Toothpaste |
Yes - 3 oz. or smaller container |
Yes |
| Toy Transformer Robots |
Yes |
Yes |
| Toy Weapons - if not realistic replicas. |
Yes |
Yes |
| Tweezers |
Yes |
Yes |
| Umbrellas- allowed in carry-on baggage once they have been inspected to ensure that prohibited items are not concealed. |
Yes |
Yes |
| Walking Canes - allowed in carry-on baggage once they have been inspected to ensure that prohibited items are not concealed. |
Yes |
Yes |
| NOTE: Some personal care items containing aerosol are regulated as hazardous materials. The FAA regulates hazardous materials. This information is summarized at www.faa.gov. |
| Electronic Devices |
|
|
| Camcorders (See below) |
Yes |
Yes |
| Camera Equipment - the checked baggage screening equipment will damage undeveloped film in camera equipment. We recommend that you either put undeveloped film and cameras containing undeveloped film in your carry-on baggage or take undeveloped film with you to the checkpoint and ask the screener to conduct a hand-inspection. (See below) |
Yes |
Yes |
| Laptop Computers (See below) |
Yes |
Yes |
| Mobile Phones (See below) |
Yes |
Yes |
| Pagers (See below) |
Yes |
Yes |
| Personal Data Assistants (PDA's) (See below) |
Yes |
Yes |
| NOTE: We recommend keeping fragile or expensive items with you in your carry-on bags |
| NOTE: Check with your airline or travel agent for restrictions on the use of these and other electronic items during your flight. |
| Sharp Objects |
|
|
| Box Cutters |
No |
Yes |
| Ice Axes/Ice Picks |
No |
Yes |
| Knives - except for plastic or round bladed butter knives |
No |
Yes |
| Meat Cleavers |
No |
Yes |
| Razor-Type Blades - such as box cutters, utility knives, razor blades not in a cartridge, but excluding safety razors. |
No |
Yes |
| Sabers |
No |
Yes |
| Scissors - metal with pointed tips and blades shorter than four inches |
Yes |
Yes |
| Swords |
No |
Yes |
| NOTE: Any sharp objects in checked baggage should be sheathed or securely wrapped to prevent injury to baggage handlers and inspectors. |
| Sporting Goods |
|
|
| Baseball Bats |
No |
Yes |
| Bows and Arrows |
No |
Yes |
| Cricket Bats |
No |
Yes |
| Golf Clubs |
No |
Yes |
| Hockey Sticks |
No |
Yes |
| Lacrosse Sticks |
No |
Yes |
| Pool Cues |
No |
Yes |
| Ski Poles |
No |
Yes |
| Spear Guns |
No |
Yes |
| Guns & Firearms |
|
|
| Ammunition - Check with your airline or travel agent to see if ammunition is permitted in checked baggage on the airline you are flying. If ammunition is permitted, it must be declared to the airline at check-in. Small arms ammunitions for personal use must be securely packed in fiber, wood or metal boxes or other packaging specifically designed to carry small amounts of ammunition. Ask about limitations or fees, if any, that apply. Read our Firearms & Ammunition section. |
No |
Yes |
| BB guns |
No |
Yes |
| Compressed Air Guns (to include paintball markers) - Carried in checked luggage without compressed air cylinder attached. |
| |
No |
Yes |
| Firearms - firearms carried as checked baggage MUST be unloaded, packed in a locked hard-sided container, and declared to the airline at check-in. Read our Firearms & Ammunition section. |
No |
Yes |
| Flare Guns - May be carried as checked baggage MUST be unloaded, packed in a locked hard-sided container, and declared to the airline at check-in. Read our section on Camping. |
No |
Yes |
| Flares |
No |
No |
| Gun Lighters |
No |
Yes |
| Gun Powder including black powder and percussion caps |
No |
No |
| Parts of Guns and Firearms |
No |
Yes |
| Pellet Guns |
No |
Yes |
| Realistic Replicas of Firearms |
No |
Yes |
| Starter Pistols |
No |
Yes |
| NOTE: Check with your airline or travel agent to see if firearms are permitted in checked baggage on the airline you are flying. Ask about limitations or fees, if any, that apply. |
| Tools |
|
|
| Axes and Hatchets |
No |
Yes |
| Cattle Prods |
No |
Yes |
| Crowbars |
No |
Yes |
| Hammers |
No |
Yes |
| Drills and drill bits (including cordless portable power drills) |
No |
Yes |
| Saws (including cordless portable power saws) |
No |
Yes |
| Tools (greater than seven inches in length) |
No |
Yes |
| Tools (seven inches or less in length) |
Yes |
Yes |
| Screwdrivers (seven inches or less in length) |
Yes |
Yes |
| Wrenches and Pliers (seven inches or less in length) |
Yes |
Yes |
| NOTE: Any sharp objects in checked baggage should be sheathed or securely wrapped to prevent injury to baggage handlers and Security Officers. |
| Martial Arts & Self Defense Items |
|
|
| Billy Clubs |
No |
Yes |
| Black Jacks |
No |
Yes |
| Brass Knuckles |
No |
Yes |
| Kubatons |
No |
Yes |
| Mace/Pepper Spray - One 118 ml or 4 Fl. oz. container of mace or pepper spray is permitted in checked baggage provided it is equipped with a safety mechanism to prevent accidental discharge. For more information visit www.faa.gov., click on Passengers, then Preparing to Fly. |
No |
Yes |
| Martial Arts Weapons |
No |
Yes |
| Night Sticks |
No |
Yes |
| Nunchakus |
No |
Yes |
| Stun Guns/Shocking Devices |
No |
Yes |
| Throwing Stars |
No |
Yes |
| NOTE: Any sharp objects in checked baggage should be sheathed or securely wrapped to prevent injury to baggage handlers and Security Officers. |
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